This article describes a method totransfer physiological data through carrier-current communication.The microcontroller measures the data of heartrate and body temperature and sends them through the serial port tothe carrier-current module implementing carrier-current communication.This method can be used totransfer physiological data through short distance less than200meters.

AIM: To investigate the effect of compound rhubarb preparation (Kintop) in preventing obesity in rats and its probable mechanism involved. METHODS: Twenty-six newborn SD rats were randomly grouped as rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group( n= 8), high-energy forage control group( n= 8) and ordinary forage control group( n= 10). The rats in rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group and high-energy forage control group were fed with high-energy forage and those in ordinary forage control group were fed with ordinary forage. The rats in rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group were administered by compound rhubarb preparation (40 mg?100 g -1 body weight?d -1 ) from 9th to 17th week. The dynamic changes in body weight, celiac fat weight and adipocytes size were measured. Immunohistochemical analysis of leptin in celiac adipocytes (ABC method) and measurement of serum leptin level (RID method) were performed. RESULTS: The body weight and the wet weights of celiac fat were lower, their adipocytes were smaller and immunohistochemical stainings of leptin were weaker in rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group than those in high-energy forage control group. There was an obvious positive correlation between the expression of leptin and celiac fat tissue weight( r= 0.8663, P

AIM: To set up and evaluate a computerized image scoring system for quantification of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) that is independent of examinee.METHODS: The PCO model was made in rabbits. Following dilation of the pupil (＞6.5mm), standardized digital images of the PCO were obtained using slit-lamp photographic system(digital camera, computer included). PCO was scored by evaluating retroillumination photograghs. The PCO score was calculated by the formula: PCO score=∑ (OD×AI in CR)×2 +∑(OD×AI in OR), in which OD is opacity density (class 0 to 4),AI is the opacity area fraction, CR is the central region (diameter=3mm), OR is the outer region (3-6mm ring region).To evaluate the reliability of the scoring system, 6 examiners scored the pictures of 5 same eyes (interindividual reliability),and one examiner scored the pictures of 5 eyes on five different days (intraindividual reliability).RESULTS: The PCO scoring system was very reliable. With PCO score range from 0 to 1.5, the interindividual reliability showed standard deviation between 0.05-0.087. Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed no significant difference (H=0.314,P=0.9726). The intraindividual reliability showed standard deviation between 0.041-0.067, no significant difference either (H =0.613, P =0.9616).CONCLUSION: This PCO quantification analysis system evaluates the central area (diameter=6mm) of posterior capsule which is larger than visual acuity or other objective testing. The system revealed high reliability and insignificant investigator-dependent difference. With a standardized photographic setup, systematic errors by the photographic technique were not relevant. This system was proved to be an easy and useful tool to accurately evaluate PCO.

OBJECTIVETooth eruption requires the presence of the dental follicle (DF) around the unerupted tooth. This study is to investigate programmed cell death on human dental follicle cells and changes of programmed cell death under different hydrostatic pressures: 0, 50 and 100 kPa.

METHODSHuman dental follicles from third mandibular molars were surgically removed from adolescents who need for orthodontics treatment after informed content, then trypsinized and cultured. Human dental follicle cells were divided into three groups according to different hydrostatic pressures: 0, 50 and 100 kPa and their programmed cell death were labeled by using TdT-medi-ated-dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSDental follicle cells cultured were elongate shape and exhibited fibroblastic characteristics. Compared with 0 kPa, programmed cell death cells on human dental follicle cells were increased 0.23% and 31.65% under 50 kPa and 100 kPa hydrostatic pressures respectively. 100 kPa group increased significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that programmed cell death occured in human dental follicle cells cultured in vitro and was influenced by different hydrostatic pressures. Hydrostatic pressure may improve tooth erup-tion through dental follicle.

Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; Dental Sac ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Molar ; Tooth Eruption

Objective To report a 33-year-old man with post-headache stroke-like episodes,with whom ischemic changes were found in basal ganglia and occipital-temporal lobe and muscle biopsy revealed abnormal mitochondrial structure and function without regular mutations detected in mtDNA.Methods Gene chip technique was used to detect the mutation of whole sequence of mtDNA,and direct sequencing technique was used to confirm the mutations.Results Three mutations were found.A new mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (MTCO1),a T→C transition at nucleotide position 6253 resulted in conservative methionine transferring to threonine.His mother also held the mutation,which was not found in 98 control samples.So T6253C was considered the nosogenetic mutation.Conclusion This is the first time to report a mutation in MTCO1 responsible of MELAS.

Objective To describe the characteristics of sexual debut among college students in China to provide appropriate sex education in that population. Methods An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among 33 653 college students selected by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method in 18 provinces and cities of China. Results The percentage of students who had initiated sexual intercourse before age 14 was 1.9%. Overall, male students (2.8%) were significantly more likely to have initiated sexual intercourse before age 14, than female students (1.1%). The percentage of students who had initiated sexual intercourse from age 15 to 18 was 6.4% in males versus 2.1% in females. while the rates of students who had initiated sexual intercourse after age 19 were 6.9% in males and 2.6% in females. The first sexual intercourse was significantly associated with parental educational attainment, geographic location and family structure. Students whose parents were relatively well educated, living in the western areas of the country China, or with nucleus/extensive families were more likely to have early sex in their puberties. Conclusion Sexual education should be strengthened especially in the western areas, and targeted on the students whose parents with relatively higher educational background or who were from extensive families.

OBJECTIVETo detect the possible relationship between PARKIN gene and the Chinese pedigree with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease(AREP).

METHODSClinical examination was carried out in 6 patients from 3 Chinese pedigrees with AREP and their 23 family members. PCR amplification of all exons of PARKIN gene was performed. The PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) to screen for point mutation and polymorphism. And in the samples with abnormal DHPLC result, further sequencing was conducted to confirm the type of mutation and polymorphism.

RESULTSAll exons of PARKIN gene from the research subjects were successfully amplified. A heterozygous point mutation (Gly284Arg) in exon 7 was found in one pedigree. A polymorphism (Ser167Asn) in exon 4 was found in another pedigree. All the patients had the past history of exposure to environmental poison.

CONCLUSIONWhen acting together with risky environmental factors, the heterozygous mutation Gly284Arg in PARKIN gene may cause AREP. The polymorphism Ser167Asn in PARKIN gene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and may cause AREP when acting together with hydrargyrism.

Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Recessive ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo summarize the surgical treatment and clinical bio-characteristics of primary esophageal adenocarcinoma (PEAC).

METHODSClinical data of 43 cases with PEAC who had undergone operation from February 1980 to December 2000 in Linzhou City Esophageal Tumor Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSForty-three cases PEAC were reported in this study, which were 0.8% out of 5638 cases pathologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma treated during this period. Twelve cases (27.9%) were in the middle 1/3 of esophagus, thirty-one cases (72.1%) in the lower 1/3, which were significantly different from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Fourteen cases were pure esophageal adenocarcinoma (32.6%), twenty-nine cases were adenosquamous cell carcinoma and adenoacanthoma cell carcinoma (67.4%). The ratio of lymph node metastasis of PEAC was higher than that of ESCC (65.1% vs. 31.6%, P < 0.001). The overall survival rates of 1, 3 and 5-year of PEAC were 81.4%, 46.5% and 28.2%, respectively, which were lower than those of ESCC (89.7%, 68.2% and 39.4%, respectively; chi 2 = 4.846, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with ESCC, PEAC, mainly located in the inferior 1/3 of esophagus, is a malignant disease with higher frequency of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Surgical resection should be the first choice of treatment. Early diagnosis and early treatment as well as curative operation could improve prognosis. The long-term survival may be increased by adjunct multi-modality treatment.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the effects of advanced glycation end-products(AGEPs)on the function of normal keratinocytes in vitro so as to explore the role of AGEPs in impaired wound healing. Methods Normal rat keratinocytes were incubated with different concentrations of AGEPs.After 48 hours of culturing,the cell proliferation rates were measured by MTT colorimetric determination.The cell cycle distributions and apoptosis were analyzed with flow cytometry,and the migration was investigated by 24-well fluorimetric cell migration assay kit by exposing to 100?g/ml AGEPs.Nuclear extracts from these cells were examined for binding of nucleotides containing NF-?B consensus by immunocytochemistry and EMSA in vitro.Results The proliferations of normal keratinocytes were significantly arrested and many cells were induced to early apoptosis compared with control ones(P＜0.05)by exposing to AGEPs for 48 hours. Meanwhile AGEPs also irritated keratinocytes migration compared with control ones(P＜0.05).Inhibiting the activation of NF-?B could partly recover the proliferation of keratinocytes,reverse apoptosis and attenu- ate migration.Conclusion AGEPs are correlated with the migration,proliferation and apoptosis of kera- tinocytes by NF-?B.

Objective To investigate selcnium(Se) levels of environment and human body in Gaomi City and Zichuan District of Shandong. Methods Lijiaying Township in Gaomi City of Weifang City, Zhaili Township and Longquan Township in Zichuan District of Zibo City were selected. Two farming soil samples at different spot, local wheat and corn, residents nail samples from 3 to 4 families were collected in each natural village in the investigated towns. The contents of Se were detected by 2,3-diamino naphthalene fluorescence method. Results Se level of the soil, wheat, corn, and nails in Lijiaying [(0.054 ± 0.019), (0.022 ± 0.009), (0.018 ± 0.007), (0.365 ± 0.108)mg/kg] was significantly lower than that in Zhaili [(0.425 ± 0.080), (0.130 ± 0.043), (0.098 ± 0.026), (0.751 ± 0.134)mg/kg] and Longquan[(0.487 ± 0.153), (0.112 ± 0.030), (0.097 ± 0.029), (0.735 ± 0.145)mg/kg;P < 0.01]. In Lijiaying, Se was deficient in soil, wheat, corn(< 0.200, < 0.025 mg/kg), above Se deficiency diagnosis and below Se-adequate level in the nail, while in Zhaili and Longquan, the Se level in the soil (0.425, 0.487 mg/kg), wheat(0.130, 0.112 mg/kg), corn (0.098, 0.097 mg/kg), nails (0.751, 0.735 mg/kg) was adequate (≥0.400 mg/kg). Conclusions The external environment is Se-deficient in Lijiaying, Se-adequate in Longquan and Zhaili. The selenium level in human body is consistent with the external environment.